Ahnna and the Greenery

It amazed her how quickly it all came together. Maximus, Bridgid and Jack had all gone out of their way
to help her make the arrangement, to contact all the right people, and now there it stood, her very own
greenhouse. She walked up and down some of the many aisles of plants. It was a really good beginning.
She wanted to add more of the local Australian varieties when she became more familiar with them.

The greenhouse had only been partially built when it hit her that she would need help running it, taking
care of it. Maximus was busy with the horses and the fields he was planting. The greenhouse was her
venture and so she went into a nearby town and placed an ad for an assistant.

The day after the ad appeared in the paper, she got a phone call from a young woman who was
interested in the position. And so it was that Ahnna Ayreland had come out to the rust-colored house
and had tea with Joimus.

 

Ahnna was in her late 20's and had explained that she'd been the nanny for the last year at a large
estate just north of the Glen. The family had suddenly decided to move to Sydney, leaving Ahnna in need
of employment. "I'm quite good with flowers," she had explained to Joimus. "My grandmother had
extensive gardens and taught me everything she knew. I found myself helping take care of the enormous
grounds of the estate just because I liked doing so."  She shrugged. "I would imagine you understand that."

Joimus smiled. She did, indeed. She liked Ahnna right off the bat. She was a lovely woman with long dark
hair and a hint of sadness lingering about her eyes. Ahnna had a small flat in a neighboring village and would
easily be able to motor over to work at the greenhouse.

She began coming every day even before the greenhouse was finished, going with Joimus to pick out supplies,
bedding plants, hanging baskets, and all the other things that would be required. Joimus had decided to call
her greenhouse Rose Hill Greenery since the short walk from the rust-colored house to the nursery took her
along the path through the large rose garden she'd made. As she approached the greenhouse, which was on
a slight rise, it appeared as though it were rising out of a hill of roses. Maximus had arranged for the parking
area to be behind the greenhouse, unseen from the main home.

She found she really enjoyed Ahnna's company. There was something rather old-fashioned about the young
woman and the almost Bohemian way she liked to dress, her shirts often made of elaborately-patterned material
with draping sleeves. She was obviously well-educated. Joimus had found out Ahnna had a degree in literature,
and yet she had spent the last year as a nanny for three small children. What she had said about knowing her
plants proved quite accurate, and Joimus relied on her for guidance with the local flora.

Maximus' happiness was increased by the happiness he saw on Joimus' face. As his land, his stables were for
him, her greenhouse was for her. It was good. It was the best of times.